St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-29
WE EKLY REVIEW.

There has been no important change in the
general situation of the wholesale markets of
the East. the demand being only fair and to
some extent disappointing. This conservatism
of the trade in purchasing is not considered
an unfavorable indication in regard to the
seasons business, the moderate volume of
the demand being ascribed to the extent of
the earlier purchases, the backwardness of
the spring and the effect of the interstate
commerce act The conviction that prices
are not likely to continue to advance, with
the possibility of weakness in few lines
which were unwisey and unnecessarily adj
vanced, has naturally Its effect buyers.
The general condition continues eminently
healthful, and a good trade is anticipated.
The drug market has been active and well
sustained during the week.. some particu-
larry large sales of new stocks having been
made. One house reports orders for four
new ndrug stocks in hand at one time. The
stock of drugs carried here is the largest
ever carried in the Northwest, and there
never was a time in the history of this coun-
try when St. Paul offered so full stock to
select from, such low-priced goods, or such
inducements to buyers as it does now. A
desperate effort is being made by Chicago
dealers to get trade in this section which be-
longs TO and is held by St. Paul. Every
drummer who" goes out from Chicago is
'oaded to the muZzle" with Interstate COM
merce,' 'St. Paul busted" and such like lit
erature. This plan of operation is short-lived
and is foreordained to failure The inter-
tate commerce bill benefits st. Paul in
most localities. and in the few it does not st.
Paul will take care of itself. 1t is doing so
now, and will Go so even more efficiently soon.
St Paul is coming out ahead in this deal sure,
ard it is not worth while for Chicago to allow
this fact to escape her mind. The minor
changes in the drug business for the week
are as follows: Quinine is sc lower. Lard
oils are tritie lower. Carbon oil is higher.
Opium is lower and balSam fur higher. The
dry goods trade has been better this week.
An increased number of buyers have been in
the market whose purchases were made
freely and in liberal quantities for season
able stuff. The order demand was active, al
Vpugh confined to seasonable goods for mod
elate wants. Advices from all sections of the
Northwest tributary to our market show a
very health state o. affairs. Stocks are COM
paratively small, while the merchants, as
rule, are out of debt. For the next sixty
days steady sorting up trade is promised,
with view of keeping stocks well under con-
troll until near the harvest, when, if the crop
promises well, very large stocks of goods will
be purchased. The railroad development
throughout the Northwest is of immediate
benefit to our merchants now IN the distribu-
ton of merchandise for the construction
crews, while the opening up of the new terri
tory in consequence of this development
will make permanent what is now
this temporary business aggregates an
enormous amount at present in consequence
of the large number of people engaged in
this construction, whose wants are supplied
almost exclusively from this market. The
market exhibits no new features Of interest
Prices of cottons are steady, with many makes
of goods sold ahead of production. The
wooden goods market is exhibiting some life,
and indications are that prices will rule about
with the exception of the fact that washed and
the same as last year. Groceries are firm and
prime Rio coffee has advanced there are no
changes IN quotations. In regard to tho
hardware market trade is active and collec-
tions satisfactory. There is serious local
fight in progress here in St. Paul, in which
some Of the leading firms are seeking to IN
dersell each other ON all staple goods
especially, and up to the present time they
have dropped even below cost prices. Com
mon iron, horseshoe iron, nails and barbed
and galvanized wire are lower.